Benchmark Founder & CEO Tom Grape participated in a panel discussion regarding how assisted living communities navigated the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and the lessons learned. Hosted by Mass-ALA, the panel was part of a two-day conference during which Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker and Elder Affairs Secretary Elizabeth Chen spoke. #MassALA #GovernorBaker #SecretaryChen
Read the full story here: https://bit.ly/33hvREi
Each month one of our associates is selected to have Lunch with ED (Executive Director) during our monthly staff meeting. The associate is able to choose anything he/she would like for lunch! September's lucky winner is our front desk receptionist Sharon! Sharon requested shrimp. Chef Todd created this 3-course masterpiece!
Team Cardinals supported the Pioneer Valley Walk to End Alzheimer’s today at our community! This year the Walk is everywhere! Our DCR Allison was also at Stanley Park in Westfield this morning to set up the Drive-Thru Promise Garden. Great day supporting a great cause! 💜 #EndALZ
Congratulations to our September Service Champion Becky! Becky is resident-focused and willing to come in and help whenever possible. She is dedicated to her team and residents. Becky is proactive when it comes to the needs of our residents. She treats everyone with dignity and respect. Becky is a real asset to the team and respected by her peers. She is someone when you see her come in for her shift you say, “oh good, Becky is here”! Thank you for all you do!
Yesterday afternoon we hosted an Apple Harvest Dash & Dine event to thank our referral partners in the community for their continued confidence in our team to provide exceptional care for their residents upon discharge from their care! Chef Todd created wonderful autumn-themed entrees and dessert for the attendees to take home and enjoy!
Our team enjoyed our "Big E"-themed Thankful Thursday today to celebrate National Assisted Living Week! We are so thankful for the wonderful team we have at our community! Thank you to our dining team and specifically our DSD Todd for these delicious baked potatoes, chili, and donut holes with dipping sauces!
Some food may not taste as great as it looks, but these mouth-watering, fall-inspired desserts made by Chef Todd did not disappoint! Everyone enjoyed this pumpkin trifle and Halloween-inspired creamsicle desserts!
These beautiful flowers, a gift from one of our 20-year veteran RCAs, Lubov, brightened our day! She definitely has a green thumb!
Another birthday celebration yesterday! Happy Birthday to one of our wonderful residents! Balloons, cards, cake, and a family visit made his day very enjoyable!
Our residents really enjoyed our Sensory Dining experience this month with Chefs Todd and Harley! Everyone enjoyed a festive fall apple treat!
Guy Hemond, VP of Culinary & Dining Experience with Benchmark, was featured in a piece by Senior Dining Association about Benchmark's Memory Care Dining Program.
Guy discusses how Benchmark communities improve memory care dining for residents, including how to create a home-like dining experience, visual stimulation in food and kitchenware, and creative ways to make food easier to eat. We are proud of Guy and our dining associates who strive toward creating a positive dining experience for residents! #CalledtoCare #memorycare #seniordining
Read the full story below:
https://seniordining.org/senior-dining-news/f/ways-to-improve-food-intake-and-dining-in-memory-care
Our new Plant Operations Director (POD) Bart proudly shows off our new sanitizing equipment for our housekeeping team to keep our residents and associates safe!
Congratulations to our Halloween Pumpkin Contest Winners!!!
1st Place: Day of the Dead pumpkin made by Natasha
2nd Place: Wolf pumpkin made by Emily (not pictured)
3rd Place: Afro pumpkin made by Rachel, Kate, & Andrea (not pictured)
Also, a huge thank you to the rest of our pumpkin entries:
Joanne's black cat, Jessica's fish tank, Lucy's lady bug, Kierstin's cactus, Julie's haunted fall pumpkin, and Krysten's Van Gogh"st"
Everyone did a wonderful job!
Our nurses and RCAs are in the Halloween spirit today with their fun costumes! Happy Halloween everyone! 🎃
Our residents enjoyed voting in our Annual Pumpkin Contest as well! We have such talented and creative associates!
Please join us in our Annual Pumpkin contest! Each of these beauties was created by one of our associates (each department/shift)! So much creativity! Voting is open until tomorrow! Leave us a comment with the letter of the pumpkin you would like to vote for!